Hardly a week after the football mother body lost its backing from banking giant Absa, Puma has announced its no longer the association’s technical sponsor.

“Puma can confirm it exercised the right to terminate its technical and licensed partnership with the South African Football Association,” Puma said in a statement. “Following match-fixing allegations made against Safa, along with inappropriate responses from within the organisation including the suspension of senior officials, Puma terminated the contract with immediate effect.”

The sports apparel giant started its partnership with Safa in 2011 in a deal expected to run beyond the 2018 World Cup. Puma also mentioned a breakdown in communication with Safa as another reason for pulling support.

“Puma abides by a code of ethics in its business operations and expects its partners to adhere to the same values.”

With Absa and Puma having pulled out, Safa are now left with South African Breweries (SAB), who have a contract with the mother body until 2017, as confirmed by Errol Madlala, sponsorship manager at SAB.

Absa’s partnership with Safa started in 2007 and it will not go beyond this year.

“We thank Safa for the opportunity and wish them, and Bafana Bafana, well in future.” Barclays Africa group executive Bobby Malabie said in a statement.